Seattle Mariners' Manager Discusses Thought Process During Pivotal Eighth Inning of Tuesday Loss

CHICAGO - The Seattle Mariners lost a tough 1-0 affair on Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. The loss drops the Mariners to 27-20 and snaps their four-game losing streak.

Casey Lawrence took the loss on the mound despite throwing five solid innings in relief of opener Casey Legumina. He allowed a solo run in the third inning and surrendered six hits in total. He walked none and struck out two.

The Mariners had a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead in the top of the eighth inning after Leody Taveras led off with a double, but they weren't able to cash in.

Here's what happened following the Taveras double:

• Miles Mastrobuoni pinch-hit for Dylan Moore, didn't bunt him over, and lined out to left.

• Leo Rivas pinch-hit for Ben Williamson and was hit by a pitch

• J.P. Crawford walked against reliever Cam Booser to load the bases.

• Mitch Garver struck out as he pinch-hit for Jorge Polanco, who still can't hit right-handed.

• Julio Rodriguez lined out to center field to end the inning.

After the game, I asked Dan Wilson about the decision to let Mastrobuoni swing away, as opposed to bunting, which is something the M's have shown a willingness to do this season.

I ​mean, ​we're ​on ​the ​road. ​We ​need ​a ​couple, ​and, just ​a ​situation ​right ​there ​where ​we're ​trying ​to ​get ​the ​lead ​there ​in ​that ​situation. ​And ​'Stro ​put ​up ​a ​pretty ​good ​at- ​bat ​and ​just ​wasn't ​able ​to ​get ​him ​over ​in ​that ​instance, ​but ​able ​to ​load ​the ​bases ​anyway ​and give ​ourselves ​a ​scoring ​chance.

In addition to that sequence, Wilson was asked about the team's usual ability to come through late in games, but not in this one:

Yeah, ​I ​mean, ​we ​talked ​about ​that. ​This ​is ​what ​our ​guys ​do. ​They ​fight. ​They ​fight ​'til ​the ​end. ​And ​they ​put ​up ​some ​really ​good ​at-bats. ​And ​again, ​that's ​the ​same ​thing, ​that ​inning ​and ​gave ​ourselves ​a ​chance. ​And ​that's ​what ​these ​guys ​do ​so ​well. ​And we'll ​come ​back ​tomorrow ​and ​bounce ​back.

The Mariners are scheduled to play the White Sox again on Wednesday at 11:10 a.m. PT. Rain is expected in the forecast and the two teams dealt with a 90-plus minute rain delay on Tuesday.